Flexible joint



March 11, .1947. G. w. HARVEY 2,417,250

FLEXIBLE JOINT Filed April 1'7, 1945 lab /0b v I? 10w A /2 lab IN VEN TOR. GEORGE W HARVEY.

A 'T'TOENEY.

Patented Mar. 11, 1947 UN I T E D STAT E S OFF ICE.

FLEXIBLE JOINT.-

George W. Harvey,v Glenburn, Calif; assignor to Solar Aircraft Company,v San" Diego; Calif., a;

corporation ofC'alifornia ApplicationApril .17, 1945,;SeriaLNo. 588,809

ticularly useful in the exhaustlines or conduits.

of airplane engines. I

An'object of the invention is to provide simple,

light and leak-proof flexible joints for use in lines carrying corrosive gases or gasesat extreme temperatures.

A more specific-object. is to provide a flexible joint of the ball andsocket type for-use in a line:

conveying gases at super -ambient pressure in which the nested ball andsocket surfaces are protected from thegasesconveyedwithout the use of packing, despite clearance between the nested surfaces;

Another specificobject is to provide aball and socket joint for. conveying gases at super-ambient pressures inwhich leakage of ambient air is induced between the sliding surfaces of the ball and socket to reduce thetemperature of the surfaces andprotect them from the gases being'conducted.

Still another object is to provide a practicable ball and socket joint in which the socket member of the joint can be readily contracted and expanded into and outof nesting relation with the ball member.

Other more specific objects and features ofthe inventionwill become apparent from thedetailed description tofollow of certain-preferred forms of the invention. Considerable difficulty has been encountered in developing durable ball and socket joints for the exhaust lines. of aeroplane engines because thehot exhaust gases within the-joint,.being at super-ambient pressures, always leaked through the clearance betweenthe ball and socket members to a certain degree, This. not only exposed the bearing surfaces of the ball'and socketmembers to the corrosive action of'the gases, but also heated them to a high temperature because the ball member was always-directly exposed to the hot exhaust gases fiowingtherethrough. Leak age of" hot exhaust gases. from the joints also increased the fire hazard, increased the danger of exhaust. gas getting into the cabin, and. reduced the exhaust pressure :availableto operate a supercharger.

Heretofore attempts at lengtheningthe life of such joints havebeen-directed to the selection ofmaterials that would withstand the temperatures: and corrosive-gases and maintain smooth, low friction characteristicsfoverthe bearing surfaces of the ball and socket, orby the interposition between the. ball .and socket of some pack- 5 Claims. (01. 285 -9 2) ingstructure that. would substantially prevent leakage;

The present invention diifers essentially from' previous solutions, ofthe problem in that it functions to reduce or preventJflow of the exhaust gases into the clearance between the'bearing. surfaces of. the joint and to greatly reduce the trans fer of heat from the exhaust gases to the hearing surfaces. This reduces the tendency of the bearing surfaces to gall or freeze and. allows smaller clearancesto be used if desired.

Briefly, this result is achieved by so directing;

the gases through the ball and socket memhers-- of the joint that. they tend. to) pass directly through the, middlevof thejointi witho'utl directly" contactingthespherical portions offthe joint, and also by increasing the velocity. of the: gases through the jointto thereby. reducetheir pressure. Itis frequently possible to. decrease the pressure below the-ambient pressure, thereby not only preventing leakage of. the hot exhaust gases between the bearing surfacesloffthe joint,..|bu tjactually inducinga. reverse-flow of'air through the joint'which tends to cool it. However, even if the pressureis not reduced below the ambient pressure, it reduces the extent of. leakage ofthehot exhaust gases. and thereby reducestheir corroding andiheating effect on the joint'.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section showing one" embodiment of the. invention;

Fig; 2 is a longitudinal section similar to that of Fig 1 but showing a modified structural Fig. 3. is a view partly inside elevation" and partly in section showing; a modifiedsocket structure alternative to the socket structure shown in'Figs. 1 and -2;.anol- Fig. 4- is a longitudinal section showing. a' singleball and socketjoint somewhat difierent'iirom the structures of Figs. 1 and 2;

Referringfirst to Fig. 1, there is disclosed a double ball andsocket joint consisting offour relatively slidable members [0,. [1,. l2 and I3, re spectively.v The member Us at the upstream endof the joint and consists of a tubular section 1 6d whichris integral with a spherical section lfib." The section It has a spherical'section llb at'its upstream end' which is. in nested relation With the spherical section- IE5 and has a tubularse'c tion- Ha nits downstream end. The member 12 has a tubular section 12a on its upstream end Whichis in-sliding. relation with the tubular sec tionllaand has on its downstream end a spherical-section I211 which is in nested relationwith a-spherical sectlon [3h on the upstream end of the member IS. The tubular section Illa of the. upstream member ID is adapted to be secured to tion I01) and the packing l5. A similar packing is interposed between the spherical sections 1211 and 1%.

To reduce the pressure within the'spherical sections lb and llb and prevent directcontact of the hot gases therewith, an inner tubular member I8 is secured to the tubular section Ida as by spot welds I9. This pipe l8 has a tapered outer end.2ll which terminates in an orifice'ZI of substantially smaller diameter than the diameter of the tubular section Illa so that the gases passing therethrough have their velocity substantially increased and their pressure correspondingly decreased in accordance with well known Venturi action. This reduces the pressure within the spherical sections lb and Ill) to a value that may be below the ambient or atmospheric pressure, so that if there is any leakage between the sliding sections 10b and llb, it will be a, leakage of air inwardly rather than a leakage of exhaust gas outwardly.

The gas stream projected at high velocity from the orifice 2| enters the tubular section Ila and the discharge end of this is also of reduced section,'as indicated at 22, to provide a discharge orifice 23 through which the gas is projected into the tubular section 13a at high velocity and reduced pressure to create a reduced pressure within the spherical sections l2b and l3b.

The orifice 23 is preferably of larger diameter than the orifice 2! as otherwise it would produce a back pressure that would largely overcome the reduction in pressure that the orifice 2| tends to create. In other words, if the orifices 2| and 23 were of the "same diameter, the reduction in pressure within the spherical sections I21) and I3b would be substantially greater than that within the spherical sections lob and Nb. By suitably proportioning the orifice 23 somewhat larger than the orifice 2!, equal pressure-drops canbe obtained within both the spherical sections Illb and Ilb and the spherical sections I21) and l3b.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the joint therein dis- 'c'losed comprises five relatively movable members 25, 26, 21, 28 and 29, respectively. The member 25.15 at the upstream end and consists of a tubular section 25a having a gradually reduced section 25b at its downstream end. The member 26'jcomprises a tubular section 26a which is in sliding relation with the tubular section 25a and a spherical section 261) which is in nested sliding relation'with. a spherical section 21b at the upstream end of the member 27. The member 21 comprises a middle tubular portion 21a which interconnects the'spherical section 211) on the upstream endwith a spherical section 211719 on the downstream end. The spherical section 2112b is in Sliding nested relation with a spherical section 28bi constituting the upstream section of the memberjZB; which has at its downstream end a tubular section 28a which is secured'to the tubular section 29a as by spot weld 32, at the downstream end of the member 29. The member 29, like the member 25, has a tapered portion 2% extending into the associated spherical sections 2ibb and 28b.

The member 2'! includes an inner tubular member 30 having a middle cylindrical section 30a which is fitted within and secured to the tubular section 21a, as by spot welds 3|, and tapered end sections 30b and 3flbb. The tapered section 30b extends within the spherical sections 26b and 211) into overlapping relation with the section 2512 and is of sufficiently larger diameter to'permit substantial angular movement of the joint without contacting the section 25b. Similarly, section 3012b extends into the spherical seci tions 2112b. and 28b and into the reduced section 29b, but is of smaller diameter than the latter to permit angular movement of the joint without contact between sections 3019b and 2%.

The structure of Fig. 2 has the advantage over that of Fig. 1 in that relatively small clearances can be used between the sections 252) and 30b and between the sections 3flbb-and 291) because the overlapping portions of those members are positioned near the centers of the associated ball and socket members. With this construction it is often possible to produce a flow of air between the bearing surfaces of the spherical sections 261) and 21b and thence through the clearances between the sections 251) and 3flb so that exhaust gas is kept completely away from the spherical bearing surfaces; A similar inflow of airis produced between the spherical'surfaces 21122) and 28b.

As in the structure of Fig. l, the orifices of sections Slibb and 2% are preferably of somewhat larger diameter than the orifices of sections 25b and 361) so as to produce substantially equal p'ressures within both ball joints.

Whereas, in the structure of Fig. 1 longitudinal movement is accommodated by the relatively slidable sections i la and [2a, such longitudinal movement is accommodated in the structure of Fig. 2 by sliding movement between sections 25a and 26a and between sections 28a and 29a, section 25a being secured directly to a conduit at one end of the joint and section 29a being secured directly to the conduit at the other end of the joint.

Fig. 3 shows a single ball joint construction in which one member 35 hasa tubular section 35a adapted to be connected to one conduit and a spherical section 352) in nested relation with the spherical section 36b of a second member 36, the latter having a tubular section 36a adapted to be connected to another conduit. There is connected to the tubular section 35a, as by spot welds 31, an inner tubular section 38 which extends into the spherical section of the joint to a point just short of the tubular section 3611 so that when the joint bends, the inner end 39 of the member 38 will clear the surface of the spherical section 36b. Normally this inner tubular section 38 directs the exhaust gas directly into the tubular section 36a with very little circulation of the hot exhaust gas to the inner surfaces of the spher-- ical sections 35b and 36b.

The outer spherical section 361), instead of being solid as in the structures of Figs. 1 and 2, has slots 43 extending inwardly from its free end, which slots define a plurality of fingers 41 which, when the joint is assembled, are contracted about the inner spherical section 35b by a ring 42. The ring 42 is retained in .position by the outer ends of the fingers M which are bent outwardly-as games spreadapart far enough to: permit slipping the.

ring over the' ends -i3 -if-itis desired'to disassemble the spherical section 361) from the spherical section-35b. 1

The-construction involving the-slots elhfingers 4i and the ring 42 has the advantage that the spherical section 361) can be completely formed prior to its assembly on the spherical section 352), whereas in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the outer spherical section of each ball and socket joint must be shaped after its assembly on the inner spherical member.

It is to be understood that the construction of Fig. 3 can be employed in the double ball assemblies of Figs. 1 and 2.

The joint shown in Fig. 4 comprises two relatively movable members 45 and 46. The member 45 comprises a tubular section @511 adapted to be connected to one conduit section and a spherical section 451) which nests with a spherical section Mb of the member 46, the latter also having a tubular section 5511 at its downstream end which is adapted to be secured to the other conduit section. The tubular section @Ea of the upstream member is secured to an internal tubular member 41 which projects inwardly substantiall; to the center of curvature of the spherical sections, this member 4! being shown secured to the tubular section 45a by spot welds 48. Likewise an internal tubular member 49 is positioned within the tubular section 45a and secured thereto by spot welds 50. The inner end of the tubular member 49 is flared as indicated at 51 to receive the inner end of the tubular member 41.

Because the inner ends of both the internal tubular members are located near the center oi curvature of the spherical surfaces, there is relatively little movement between them when the joint flexes, and the flared end 59 of the member 49 aids in collecting the gases discharged through the tubular member 47. As a result, little of the exhaust gas circulates against the inner surfaces of the spherical sections 45b and 46b and they are maintained at a much lower temperature than they otherwise would be.

Various departures from the exact structures disclosed will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and the invention is therefore to be limited only to the extent set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A flexible joint for use in a conduit conveying gases in one direction at pressures above the ambient pressure and comprising cooperating upstream and downstream hollow ball and socket members, each having a spherical section in sliding nesting relation with the spherical section of the other member, and a tubular section extending away from the spherical section, the tubular section of the upstream member being extended downstream into the spherical section of that member for directing the gases into the tubular section of the downstream member, and the tubular section of said downstream member being extended into the spherical section of that member and into overlapping relation with the said extended portion of said upstream member, said extended portion of the downstream member being of substantially larger diameter than the extended portion of the upstream member to permit substantial angular movement between said upstream and downstream members without contact between said extended portions thereof.

21' A" flexible' joint* for use-in a conduit conveying gases in one direction at pressures above the ambient pressure and comprising cooperat ing upstream and downstream hollow ball and socket members, eachhavinga spherical section in sliding nestingrelation with the spherical section of the other member, and a tubular section extending away from the sphericalisectiomthe;

tubular section of the upstream. member being extended downstream'int'o the spherical section of that member for directingthe gases intothe.

tubular section of' the downstream" member, and the tubular section of said downstream member being extended into the spherical section of that member and into overlapping relation with the said extended portion of said upstream member, said extended portion of the downstream member being of substantially larger diameter than the extended portion of the upstream member to permit substantial angular movement between said upstream and downstream members without contact between said extended portions thereof, and said extended portions of the upstream and downstream members being of substantially equal length, whereby their overlapping portions are symmetricaly disposed with respect to the center of curvature of said spherical sections.

3. A flexible joint for use in a conduit conveying gases in one direction atpressures above the ambient pressure and comprising cooperating upstream and downstream hollow ball and socket members, each having a spherical section in sliding nesting relation with the spherical section of the other member, and a tubular section extending away from the spherical section, the tubular section of the upstream member being extended downstream into the spherical section of that member for directing the gases into the tubular section of the downstream member, said extended portion of the upstream member extending approximately to the center of said spherical sections and the tubular section of the downstream member extending into the spherical section of that member substantially to the center of curvature thereof and being of larger cross-section at its end and surrounding the orifice of said extended portion of the upstream member.

4. A flexible joint for use in a conduit conveying gases in one direction at pressure above the ambient pressure, said joint comprising four members, each consisting of a tubular section and a spherical section, a first of said members having its tubular section directed upstream and having its spherical section in nested relation with the tubular section of a second of said members, said second member having its tubular section directed downstream and in sliding relation with the tubular section of a third of said members, the third of said members having its spherical section in nested relation with the spherical section of the fourth of said members, and said fourth member having its tubular section directed downstream, said first member having its tubular section extended into its spherical section for directing gases into the tubular section of said second member, and said secondmember extending into the spherical section of said third member for directing gases into the tubular section of said fourth member.

5. A flexible joint as described in claim 4 in which the extended portions of said first and second members are tapered to a reduced cross section at their ends for increasing the velocity of the gases discharged therefrom and reducing their pressure, the cross-sectional dimension of the end of the tubular extension of sald second member FOREIGN PATENTS being larger than that of the extended portion of Said first member. Number Country 7 Date GEORGE HARVEY- 5 510,417 French Sept. 4, 1920 390,305 r German Feb. 21, 1924 REFERENCES CITED 390,304 German Feb. 21, 1924 The following references are of record in the 341,025 German Nov. 21, 19,19 file of this patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 299,662 Martin June 3, 1884 

